60 more ministers to be inducted: Sibal

Sixty more ministers are expected to be inducted into the government in the next phase of Cabinet expansion, Union Minister Kapil Sibal said on Sunday.

With the induction of the new ministers, size of the Council of Ministers will touch 80, the same number of ministers that the UPA government had in its previous regime.

"Sixty more ministers are expected to be sworn-in before the Parliament session starting from June one. The total number of the ministers is expected to be at least 80," Sibal told media persons at a felicitation function of newly-elected Congress MPs of Delhi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the first batch of 19 Cabinet ministers were administered the oath of office by President Pratibha Patil on Friday.

The number of portfolios announced was kept limited as Congress was apparently locked in tough negotiation with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the third largest constituent of UPA, over ministerial berths.

However, Sibal said there are no differences with DMK over the number of ministerial berths and everything will be "clear" in a few days.

The new batch of ministers is also expected to include some young faces.